Salleri Eco-tourism Education Project

Based in the Solu Khumbu region of the Himalayas
(near Everest), volunteers worked in the Salleri area undertaking
an eco-tourism survey from a Westerners point of view.

Background

The Salleri area is, as yet, very underdeveloped
with regard to attracting tourists. Certainly it has all the
attributes:- beautiful landscape; numerous villages that are home
to the Sherpa people; a very lively bazaar held at the weekends;
a Tibetan refugee camp; and many splendid Buddhist monestaries.
What Salleri needs now is guidance, to point out what a trekking
tourist would require, and an analyses of the various issues that
introducing tourists into an area would bring. By recommending
ways to capitalise on tourism, and strategies to minimise any
harmful 'side effects'. The traditional tourist routes in Nepal
are already creaking under the weight of so many visitors and it
is vital that new routes be opened up to spread the impact.
It is inevitable that Salleri, already being scrutinised by
entrepreneurial eyes, will become another major route to the Everest
National Park. Now it is up to people to ensure
that the necessary controls are in place so that the area is as
unspoilt in 20 years time as it is now.

The Project

The team worked alongside SEEP, a local Non
Government Organisation. The following projects
were identified:

Compiling a report on the potential of the area for tourism
and the estimated results of a best case / worst case scenario.

Producing literature for the tourist information centre -
trekking maps, guides, photographs, postcards and items that
could be sold to generate local income.

Sign post construction and trail maintenance working with
locals and helping the locals to get started on grasping the
English language.